100-plus Years Of Nurturing Children

In June 1932, Gene Tunney, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, visited Connecticut Junior Republic as the featured speaker on what was known as ``Annual Day.''

``I'll not wash my right hand again,'' declared a young resident who had shaken hands with the great man. He was allowed to go unwashed for two days, but then the CJR health commissioner ruled against him and the hand was cleansed.

The above anecdote is lifted from ``A Century of Caring for Youth,'' a sketch of the first 100 years of Connecticut Junior Republic [1904-2004]. The book arrived in the mail a few days ago. It's an interesting and entertaining read, compiled and edited by volunteer Carol G. Bramley, with a big assist from Hedy Barton, director of development at the Litchfield institution for troubled youth. Lynne Brickley, a member of the CJR Advisory Board, also provided valuable help.

``I thought you would enjoy it,'' Barton said. It was Barton who sent it along. ``Did you get a chance to watch the DVD yet?'' she asked.

A nine-minute DVD accompanied the book. The film features former residents, some of whom go back as far as the 1940s, telling briefly how their experiences at the Litchfield nonprofit home/farm helped them shape productive, successful lives.

The book, a 56-page, slick-paper compilation, is loaded with clear, authentic photographs, many of them from the early part of the 20th century.

CJR was patterned after a similar entity in Freeville, N.Y. known as George Junior Republic. When Miss Mary T. Buel willed a large Litchfield farmhouse, 160 acres and $5,000, Connecticut Junior Republic was born. It has thrived for 100 years plus.

``The most important job we have here is attracting and retaining the best teaching staff possible,'' executive director John Boyd said. Boyd has been associated with CJR for 29 years, the past 10 as director. He was born in Woodstock and attended college at Bradley University (Ill.), getting his master's degree from Northern Illinois.

``It is quite a change for many of the kids who arrive here. Many are urban kids, seeing for the first time what goes on at a farm. We have beef cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens mostly, and there is a great deal to learn about their care.''

Boyd said the school has a variety of home-based and community-based programs in East Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury and northwestern Connecticut, and last year served 1,100 at-risk or troubled youngsters. There are 84 children in residence at the Litchfield headquarters, which is beautifully kept.

``I have always been impressed with how the institution has functioned with the tremendous support of the community,'' Carol Bramley said. She is a past president of Litchfield Aid, a women's organization founded in 1911 by Minerva Buel. The organization's goals haven't changed. They are (copied from Bramley's book): ``to promote good public relations, to make the Republic known to the general public, to assist in the general improvement to the campus and facilities and to contribute to the institution's financial support.''

``As a past president of Litchfield Aid, I am a board member,'' she said.

Two other members of the board, which is headed by Gregory S. Oneglia, are former CJR residents.

Today, CJR has many departments besides housing, school and farm. There is a woodworking shop, print shop, a farm stand where the boys sell the mountain of vegetables they grow, computer courses and other areas of learning. Students have written and performed two plays, and there is training in the arts. A sound athletic program has been in place for many years.

``We have good relationships with area high schools, such as Litchfield and Wamogo,'' Boyd said. ``And we often go to those schools for JV basketball games. They are not official games but they are very competitive and we often receive compliments about the way our teams comport themselves.''